At Havant Thicket in Hampshire, Komatsu PC220LCi-12 with iMC 3.0 technology and integrated tiltrotator control are helping Jones Brothers carry out complex earthworks for a project set to create 8.7 billion litres of future water capacity.
“An impressive machine”
Across the Havant Thicket site, carefully formed drainage channels are laying the groundwork for a major new reservoir. Here, Jones Bros is installing a complex network of channels as part of the earthworks for a major new reservoir. For operator Joe Mahoney, the Komatsu PC220LCi-12 makes that detailed work feel responsive and controlled.
“The new PC220 is an impressive machine,” he says. “Not only is it a quicker machine hydraulically, the combination of that and operator comfort allows me to remain more productive for longer during the day.”
Joe can adjust boom and stick speeds with the touch of a button, setting the machine’s response to suit the task. That direct control supports the precise work taking place across the site.
Havant Thicket is designed to store up to 8.7 billion litres of water. Jones Bros is delivering the reservoir works with Mackley Construction as Future Water, helping create infrastructure intended to strengthen water resilience across the South East.
Headquartered in North Wales, Jones Bros works across a diverse range of projects, from sea defences to power networks. Its relationship with Komatsu stretches back more than 40 years, to some of the first Komatsu machines delivered in the UK. Today, Komatsu remains the dominant brand in a fleet of almost 500 machines.
“We have been using Komatsu machines for a long time now,” says chairman Huw Jones. “We have built a solid relationship with Komatsu and find their products to be ideally suited to our operations, delivering a perfect combination of reliability and fuel efficiency.”
A personalised experience
The performance of the PC220LCi-12 is only part of what Joe notices. For him, a good working day also depends on being comfortable and confident in the cab, as well as having controls that respond the way he expects.
“I’ve been very impressed with the way I can set it up exactly how I want to operate the machine,” he says.
Not only does the new cab offers him more space, improve visibility and a comfortable work environment, and programmable controls also let him tailor the machine to his preferences. The operator ID system saves those settings, so his setup is ready when he returns for his next shift. It’s a small change in routine, but one that makes the machine feel more much personal to the operator using it.
iMC 3.0: Benefits across the whole project
On the Havant Thicket site, the PC220LCi-12 is being used to quickly and accurately install a complex series of drainage channels around the resevoir. Using the highly precise iMC 3.0 technology and integrated tiltrotator, the complex design can be achieved with great efficiency and time saving.
The system’s posture hold function, for example, helps maintain the tiltrotator’s orientation, which further supports digging and grading with the tiltrotator.
Besides the machine control features, Joe also commented on how easy it is for him to create designs and make adjustments with the brand new 10.1-inch touchscreen monitor as the work progresses, without needing an engineer on-site for every change.
“I can create designs on the fly, meaning I no longer need to rely on an engineer for every tweak,” Joe says. “This system also provides helpful hints and explanations for new setups and design inputs, which I can access directly via the tablet.”
That connection between the machine, the operator and the wider project team helps turn precise machine work into steady project progress, where each drainage channel contributes to a reservoir designed to help secure future water supplies.
